Target House 300 - Jason Keller Notes

Jason Keller/ppc Racing Pre-Race Notes
Target House 300/California Speedway

Event Information … Event: Target House 300; Time and Date: 3:00 p.m. EST, September 4, 2004; Live Coverage: NBC (television) at 3:00 p.m. EST and MRN and XM Satellite (radio) at 2:45 p.m. EST; Qualifying: September 3, 2004 at 4:00 p.m. EST Live on Speed

Sponsorship Opportunities…Jason Keller and his ppc Racing team will roll into California this weekend without a primary sponsor on the hood of their race car for the 11th time this season. Keller, whose primary sponsor is Miller High Life for 19 of the 34 races on the 2004 schedule, continues to focus on winning his first race of the season and finishing in the top-5 in driver standings. For a majority of the 11 races where High Life has appeared as an associate, Keller’s team has managed to secure one-race sponsorships at the last minute. Most notably, from his other two associate sponsors, Bear Creek Soups and Airplus Insoles. The 34-year old veteran is coming off an 8th place finish at Bristol and sits 6th in driver points.

In the Rumor Mill…Jason Keller and his ppc Racing team have filled the rumor mills in the last couple of weeks around the Busch Series garage. Much speculation has been made about where Keller will end up and whether his ppc team will field a new Busch/Cup car for competition in 2005. Car Owner, Greg Pollex said announcements can be expected in the coming weeks. One thing is for sure; ppc Racing will be back next year with one intention, to take a shot at their second series championship; the first coming in 2000 with driver, Jeff Green.

Tollhouse Cookies Anyone?...Jason Keller will give up his familiar red and white colors to sport a yellow and brown paint scheme this year for the Dover and Charlotte races. Nestle Tollhouse, former sponsor of last year’s teammate, Scott Riggs will adorn Keller’s car for the two races on the 2004 schedule. Since they were first used by Ruth Wakefield in what would become the most popular cookie of all time, NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE Semi-Sweet Morsels have satisfied the chocolate cravings of millions of fans. Keller will be looking to cook up a win for his two-time sponsor at Dover in a couple of weeks.

The Car…The Miller High Life crew will bring car No. 10-17 to the track this weekend in California. This is the same car that Keller drove to a 16th place finish a few weeks ago at Michigan International Speedway. Keller also drove this car to a second place finish at Chicago earlier this year. This car proved to be a favorite of last year’s teammate, Scott Riggs’ who posted second and third place finishes in 2003 at Texas and Charlotte respectively.

Quotes:

Keller on racing at California for the second time this year…“I feel a lot better coming back to California the second time around. The first time we ran here, my relationship with Wes (Ward) was still fairly new and we were learning a lot of new things from each other. I wish we would have run better at Michigan, since these two tracks are so similar, but I’m looking forward to going back to California and running well.”

Keller on where he’s at right now in the 2004 season…“I am trying not to focus on the championship standings too much anymore. Obviously we want to come away from this year with a top-5 finish in the points, but we really need to concentrate on winning races right now. That is what is most important for this race team and my sponsor, Miller High Life.”